GG4251 Volcanic ash: dispersal, impacts and applications

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

The School will operate a ballot system.

Planned timetable

Tues 10am-1pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr R T Streeter

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Richard Streeter

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Volcanic ash, or tephra, is one of the most visible and widespread hazards created by volcanic activity and has affected large parts of the Earth’s surface. In addition, volcanic ash is widely used for reconstructing volcanic hazards and as a geochronological marker to understand environmental change. This module provides an introduction to tephra in both its role as an agent of change, and as a marker of change. It presents key concepts and theories necessary to understand the dispersal of tephra, its preservation in the environment, and its use as a tool to date environmental change. This module begins by considering the production, dispersal, and preservation of tephra in the environment. It will then consider how tephra impacts on both natural systems and human societies, before looking at how tephra can be used as a powerful chronological tool to date environmental change. Throughout the module there is an emphasis on how we measure volcanic ash deposits at a range of scales.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS 'GG2011 AND GG2012' OR 'SD2001 AND SD2002' OR 'GG2013, GG2014 AND SD2100' OR 'SD2005, SD2006 AND SD2100'.

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU PASS GG3276 OR TAKE GG3276

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture (x10 weeks), 1 seminar (x6 weeks), 1 2-hour practical (x7 weeks)

Intended learning outcomes

  • Appreciate the wide range of impacts on environmental and human systems caused by volcanic ash, and have an understanding of the key processes involved
  • perform basic calculations of eruptive volume based on measurements of ash thickness; and to be able to articulate potential sources of uncertainty in the measurement
  • describe how tephra is used to date environmental change, be able to articulate a range of applications of tephrochronology and have an appreciation of its importance in dating past environmental change
  • describe the key physical properties of volcanic ash and demonstrate an understanding of how it is dispersed
  • describing and measuring volcanic ash shards under a microscope